Whenever We Wanted

Whenever We Wanted is American singer-songwriter and musician John Mellencamp's 11th album, and the first to be credited simply to Mellencamp's given name (i.e., without the "Cougar" name).

Whenever We Wanted
Studio album by
John Mellencamp
ReleasedOctober 8, 1991
RecordedApril–June 1991
GenreRock
Length38:45
LabelMercury
ProducerJohn Mellencamp
John Mellencamp chronology
Big Daddy
(1989)		 Whenever We Wanted
(1991)		 Human Wheels
(1993)
Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic link
Entertainment WeeklyB[1]
Robert Christgau[2]
Rolling Stone link

The album reached the top 20 and went platinum.[3] It includes the hits "Get A Leg Up" (#1 for three weeks on the Album Rock Tracks chart), "Now More Than Ever" (#3 on the Album Rock Tracks chart), "Last Chance" (#12 on the Album Rock Tracks chart), and "Again Tonight" (#1 for two weeks on the Album Rock Tracks chart). "Get A Leg Up" (#14) and "Again Tonight" (#36) also cracked the Billboard Hot 100.

Entertainment Weekly gave the album a positive review, stating: "To Mellencamp's credit, even though 'Whenever We Wanted' delivers his signature rock & roll punch, he doesn't try to. That Mellencamp still has the courage to make depressing assessments in a pop context is a victory that outweighs the record's other shortcomings."

Mellencamp later said the album was an attempt to "write American Fool with better lyrics" after a fan mentioned the previous two albums "had nothing about sex on them." This inspired him to write less about problems in the heartland and "get back to the basics."[3]

Despite calling Whenever We Wanted one of the best records he had ever made during his 1991 promotional radio tour to support the album, Mellencamp's opinion of Whenever We Wanted has since diminished. He told Alan Sculley of Call Newspapers in 2005: "There were some records that I really wasn't there for. I mean, I did a record called Whenever We Wanted, which really isn't a very good record. I mean, I was there, but I was painting. I'd be hours late for sessions just because I was in the middle of a painting. That's not good doing that kind of thing. Human Wheels turned out pretty good, but I kind of was doing the same thing during Human Wheels."

Album notes

The woman featured on the cover with Mellencamp is Elaine Irwin. The cover photo was taken during the shoot for the video for the hit single "Get a Leg Up." The video was shot in July 1991; Mellencamp and Irwin didn't see each other again until January 1992 when the Whenever We Wanted Tour pulled into New York City. They become a couple a short time later and were married in September 1992. They separated in September 2010 and were divorced in 2011.[4]

After his previous two albums, The Lonesome Jubilee and Big Daddy, featured such non-traditional rock instruments as the accordion and violin, Mellencamp said that on Whenever We Wanted he wanted to put those instruments "back in their cases" and return to a harder-edged sound. Mellencamp further elaborated on the album, saying: "It's very rock 'n' roll. I just wanted to get back to the basics."[3]

Track listing

All songs written by John Mellencamp, except where noted.

  1. "Love and Happiness" – 3:53
  2. "Now More Than Ever" – 3:43
  3. "I Ain't Ever Satisfied" – 3:36
  4. "Get a Leg Up" – 3:47
  5. "Crazy Ones" (Mellencamp, Randy Handley) – 4:01
  6. "Last Chance" – 3:39
  7. "They're So Tough" – 4:17
  8. "Melting Pot" – 4:47
  9. "Whenever We Wanted" – 3:42
  10. "Again Tonight" – 3:17
  11. "Love and Happiness (London Club Mix)" (2005 re-issue bonus track) – 6:33

Personnel
  • John Mellencamp – vocals, guitar, hand percussion
  • Kenny Aronoff – drums, percussion, vibes
  • Mike Wanchic – guitar, background vocals
  • Toby Myers – bass guitar, background vocals
  • David Grissom – guitars
  • John Cascella – Hammond B-3, accordion, penny whistle, Farfisa Organ
  • Pharez Whitted – trumpet on "Love And Happiness" and "Whenever We Wanted"
  • Jay Healy – engineer, mixing

Charts

Album – Billboard (United States)[5]

Year Chart Position
October 26, 1991 The Billboard 200 17

Singles – Billboard (United States)[6]

Year Single Chart Position
1991 "Get A Leg Up" The Billboard Hot 100 14
1991 Mainstream Rock Tracks 1
1991 "Love And Happiness"[7] Mainstream Rock Tracks 5[8]
1992 "Again Tonight" The Billboard Hot 100 36
1992 Mainstream Rock Tracks 1
1992 "Now More Than Ever" Mainstream Rock Tracks 3
1992 "Last Chance" Mainstream Rock Tracks 12

References
  1. Arnold, Gina (October 2, 1991). "Whenever We Wanted Review". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
  2. Christgau, Robert. "CG: John Mellencamp". Robert Christgau.
  3. "25 Years Ago: John Mellencamp Gets Frisky on 'Whenever We Wanted'".
  4. "John Mellencamp, Elaine Irwin-Mellencamp Split – CBS News".
  5. Billboard.com – Discography – John Mellencamp – Whenever We Wanted
  6. Billboard.com – Artist Chart History – John Mellencamp
  7. "John Mellencamp – Love And Happiness at Discogs".
  8. "The Indianapolis Star Oct 9, 2004 page 29". 22 'Love and Happiness,' 1991 No. 5 'Mainstream Rock' chart
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